The
splash page opens by promising a very different kind of superhero
with Spider-Man,
while showing Peter Parker being ridiculed by his classmates.
The readers are given a look at the life of Peter Parker, living with
his loving Aunt May and
Uncle Ben and
adored by his teachers as an ace student. His classmates, most
noticeably
Flash Thompson,
are not so fond of him, however, as they turn down his offer of
checking out the new science exhibit with him. Frustrated by
his classmates’ treatment of him, Peter goes to the exhibit alone,
but is quickly enamored by the demonstrations regarding
radioactivity.
Unknown
to Peter or anyone else, a spider makes its way into the path of the
radioactive rays, before leaping off and biting Peter’s hand.
Startled, Peter notices the spider is glowing and suddenly starts to
feel strange and steps outside for some air. Lost in his
thoughts over what just happened, Peter doesn’t notice a car
speeding towards him, which he leaps to avoid at the last second.
It’s a greater leap than Peter bargained for as he jumps straight
onto the wall of a nearby building and discovers he can stick to
walls as he quickly climbs up the building. He then discovers
he has super-strength as he crushes a pipe on the roof of the
building.
Peter
contemplates how best to use his newfound powers, as he sees a poster
advertising a cash prize against wrestler Crusher Hogan. Peter
thinks it’s as good a chance as any to test his powers, but
disguises himself in the event that he fails. Peter challenges
Crusher and quickly makes short work of him. This impresses the
audience, including a TV producer who promises Peter that he’ll be
a star. At home, Peter designs a costume for himself, as well
as his wrist-mounted web-shooters, and decides to call
himself…Spider-Man!
Spider-Man
is a smash hit on TV, dazzling everyone with his amazing powers and
feats. As Spidey is leaving the studio a cop calls out to him
to stop a Burglar that
he is chasing. Peter reasons that it’s none of his business
and lets the crook go by. After many more TV appearances, Peter
returns home one night to find that his uncle has been shot and
killed by a burglar. Overcome with grief and anger, Peter dons
his Spider-Man costume and vows to catch the burglar. He swings
over to a warehouse where the police have the burglar cornered.
Spider-Man startles and quickly subdues the burglar, finally getting
a good look at his face. It is then that the sees that it was
the same crook he chose not to stop before. Spider-Man webs up
the burglar for the cops and laments over his guilt. Peter
sadly makes his way home, having learned that with great power, there
must also come great responsibility.